The Lady Tigers led for only 28 seconds Monday night at Kickapoo, but it was the 28 seconds that counted most. Tori Taylor’s free-throw in the final half-minute gave Republic a 43-42 lead–their first lead of the game–and the Lady Tigers held on for a huge road win over the Lady Chiefs, 46-42.
Kickapoo had used a stingy matchup zone defense to build a 12-point lead in the first half. Republic trailed 20-8 early in the second quarter, looked lost on offense, and had difficulties rebounding the ball on defense. But they still managed to fight back to within two points at halftime and went into the locker room trailing 24-22.
“To cut it to two at half, I thought was huge,” says coach Kris Flood.
Heading into the fourth quarter, Republic had whittled the lead to one point, 30-29. but with 4 1/2 minutes left in the game, Kickapoo seemed in control, leading by five, 37-32. The Lady Tigers outscored Kickapoo 14-5 the rest of the way.
The comeback started in earnest with under a minute to go and the Lady Tigers trailing by four. Jade Sawyer says in the huddle before the final minute, she and her teammates knew the game was within reach.
“I think that was the most focused we’d been all game. We all were very intense and we were like, ‘We need to go get this game because we can win it. There was enough time that we knew we could get there and knew we could win,” Sawyer says. “Whoever has the best shot, they should have the shot. If it’s me, I’ll take it.”
Sawyer had it, and she took it. And she hit it. Her three-pointer from the left wing cut Kickapoo’s lead to 42-41. Then Jordan Kabetske drew a charging foul along the sideline as the Lady Tigers employed their full-court press.
On the ensuing Republic possession, Taylor took a pass in the lane and was fouled. She calmly swished two free throws (with a timeout by Kickapoo sandwiched in-between), giving Republic the lead.
Then it was time for more heroics by Sawyer. The 5’3″ guard jumped high in the air to tip a pass in the back court, plucked the ball out of the air, and drew a foul. She hit one free-throw to give the Lady Tigers a two-point lead.
“I’m not very tall. Real short. Not long arms. So I was just trying to get up there and trying to tip it, and I got the tip and I was pumped after that,” Sawyer says.
Kickapoo had one last opportunity. They took two shots, missed them both, and Taylor pulled down the rebound. She found Michayla Shanks on a long outlet pass, and Shanks hit a layup in the final seconds to give the Lady Tigers their final margin of victory.
“You’re dealing with a group now that has a tremendous amount of experience from last year,” says Flood. “They’ve been in situations like that whether they’ve been the ones that’s down or up 12. They’ve been in some hard, key moments, and I thought they kept pretty even-keeled. I never really saw where they looked desperate.”
Shanks and Sawyer led Republic with eight points apiece. Micah Mansker had seven. Brooke Stanfield, Tori Taylor, and Brylee Argo scored six each. Kabetske scored four points and Logan Flood added one.
The Lady Tigers improve to 2-0. They’re back in action Thursday at Springfield Hillcrest. Republic Tiger Sports will broadcast that game live.